Tiki vibes, real wine, serious Wednesday deals
Lighthouse District · Monterey · California/Hawaiian, Polynesian-inspired · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hula's Island Grill’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You walk into a tiki bar expecting Mai Tais and a laminated beer list, and instead you find a 20-bottle-plus wine program with German Riesling, Willamette Valley Pinot, and a sparkling rosé from Maui. That alone earns a second look. The list isn't trying to be a wine bar — it's trying to be useful — and mostly it succeeds.
The range here punches above its casual-island-grill weight class. California anchors the list smartly — Tyler and Chamisal represent the serious end of the Chardonnay section, while Argyle's Bloom House Pinot brings legitimate Willamette Valley credibility to the reds. There are smart international picks sprinkled in: Selbach's 'Ahi' Riesling from the Mosel is a great call for a seafood-heavy menu, and Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough fits the coastal energy perfectly. The weak spots are real — Barefoot in 1.5L bottles and Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve feel like placeholder stock, and they drag down what is otherwise a thoughtful-enough collection.
Seventeen by-the-glass options is a genuinely impressive number for this format, and the range covers sparkling, whites, rosé, and reds without feeling scatter-shot. Prices run $11–$20 a glass, which is honest for Monterey. Wednesday's Wine Down half-off bottle deal is where this program really shines — show up midweek and you're suddenly drinking Tyler Chardonnay at a price that makes the whole dinner feel like a win.
Selbach 'Ahi' Riesling (Mosel, Germany) — $11–$14/glass (estimated)
A Mosel Riesling named 'Ahi' at a Hawaiian grill is either a happy accident or a stroke of genius — either way, it's the smartest pour on the list for a fish taco or anything coming off the kitchen with heat or citrus. Selbach makes honest, affordable Riesling and this one earns every dollar.
Argyle 'Bloom House' Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Most people at a tiki grill are ordering Cab or the house red. Skip all of that and go here. Argyle is a legitimate Willamette producer and the Bloom House bottling is real wine at a price point that doesn't require a conversation with your accountant.
Rombauer Chardonnay (Carneros, California)
Rombauer is fine — it's also everywhere, it's expensive, and it's the wine equivalent of ordering the same thing you always get. In a list that includes Tyler and Chamisal, paying the Rombauer premium here is just habit, not a choice.
Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) + Fish Tacos
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was basically engineered for this moment. The grapefruit and green herb notes cut through any fish richness, play well with lime crema and slaw, and the bright acidity resets your palate between bites. This is the move.
Wednesday — Wine Down Wednesday — half off bottles of wine. Specialty or reserve bottles may be excluded. Happy Hour also features $8 house wines by the glass.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Hula's is a legit Wild Card — a tiki-themed island grill in Monterey that actually thought about its wine list, keeps prices fair, and runs a Wednesday half-off bottle deal that changes the math entirely. It's not destination wine drinking, but it's a lot better than it has any right to be.
Cannery Row · Monterey · Lounge
Chart House's happy hour wine program exists to keep your glass full while you stare at the Pacific — and on that level, at $8–$10 a pour, it succeeds. But if wine is actually why you're here, Cannery Row can do better.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Fisherman's Wharf · Monterey · Casual Seafood
Riva Fish House is a reliable pour for what it is — a casual, tourist-friendly wharf spot that keeps the wine list simple and the prices honest. Send a friend here for a glass of Chardonnay and the chowder; don't send them here expecting anything that'll make them rethink their relationship with wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pacific Grove · Monterey · Mediterranean / European
Fandango is punching well above its coastal casual-fine-dining weight class with a list that has real depth, genuine age, and some legitimately exciting outliers. The markups keep it from true Rager status, but if you're in Pacific Grove and want to drink seriously, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
North Fremont / Beachfront · Monterey · American, Seafood
The Lantern Room is what happens when a hotel restaurant actually tries — a locally anchored wine list, a sommelier in the building, and enough interesting producers to make the steep markup sting a little less. Send a friend here if they love Central Coast wine; warn them to skip the Cab and lean into what this coast actually grows.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
North Fremont / Beachfront · Monterey · Seafood / Beachfront
Tidewater is riding entirely on its beachfront location, and the wine list makes no effort to be anything more than a functional afterthought. Stick to the glass pours, pick the most credible name you can find, and keep your eyes on the water.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cannery Row · Monterey · New American with seafood, house-made pasta, and flatbread pizza
Lalla Oceanside isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely fair deal for what it is — a lively Cannery Row spot where the list supports the food without gouging you. If you stick to the Bernardus or the Albariño and grab a window seat, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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